The election season in the US in 2008 is pretty electric - the one distinct difference i have actually considered between the parliamentary form of governement and a presidential one is the impact the personality of a single individual has on the governance of the country, the tone set in policy and the identity of the nation for a period of history.
Dont get me wrong - distinctively iconoclastic individuals do steer nations irrespective of the type of legislative and beaurocratic setup by sheer dint of personality - but above and beyond that the choice of a captain is far more critical when the course to be steered traverses uncharted waters. Do we really want a man of the masses - taking into account how many flaws and fallacies we individually have, or do we hold these individuals to a higher standard when we really think about it?
It is after all professional excellence - it is the same concept that allows couch potatoes to critisize atheletes for not performing. You are supposed to get good at what you do for a living, if you aspire to greatness - irrespective of the field.
Yet, there is something more than just that - we all think with our heads, but usually choose from the heart. Let me elaborate - I propose that the human population has reached a stage on this planet, where there are many individuals who can do the job exceedingly well - so once the grains are separated from the chaff and the herd is culled to the few excellent specimens we desire, the remaining choice becomes academic. So, i feel that we only pick on issues to a particular level and beyond that , the unknown called "the gut" takes over. Which is why the fates of politicians often hang on that indecipherable unknown political pundits call charisma and appeal. And that is how some people get away with promising "everyone everything" and having them all believe they have got the best deal.
wait a second - how many used car salesmen have run for president again???
No comments:
Post a Comment